The first is a shield of crocodile’s skin from Nubia, when made of this
material they were very highly prized by the natives, and consequently not
often met with in collections. This specimen is in the Antiquarian Museum.
They were oftener made from hippopotamus skin. The next is oriental and of
buffalo hide, and below it is a Dutch or German shield of iron on a strong
framework of wood, the iron covering having a series of triangular studs
struck up on its surface, while a number of circular pointed ones are
rivetted on it, surrounding the large central boss. The other is a steel
or iron shield of a class sometimes shewn in Scotland as Highland, but in
reality the same as were used in other European countries.
[Illustration: _Circular Shields._]
VI.
ROMAN LEGIONARY SCULPTURED STONE.
This splendid slab was found in 1868 on a rocky promontory within ten
yards of the sea, close by the harbour of Bridgeness, Linlithgowshire, it
was face down, and covered by about two feet of soil. It is divided into
three panels, the centre one being an inscription dedicatory to their
emperor by the second legion on the completion of a portion of the wall of
Antoninus, about A.D. 150. The panel to the right of the inscription has
sculptured on it a Roman soldier, having a rounded shield with boss,
galloping over some of the natives, who have oblong square shields with
circular bosses. On the other is a group by an altar. This interesting
relic was presented to the Antiquarian Museum by Harry Cadell, of Grange,
Esquire.
[Illustration]
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Plate VI.
[2] Museum of the Antiquaries.
[3] Plate IV.
[4] Plate V.
[5] Plates II., III.
[6] Lady of the Lake.
[7] Plate I.
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Highland Targets and Other Shields, by
James Drummond
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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